The Lael Stables’ Exaggerated got back on the winning track, and Virginia-bred horses scored wins at 5 different venues from November 11 – 17. Here’s the latest recap.
Exaggerated, who won the $60,000 Oakley Stakes at Laurel Park September 26 on Virginia-bred Stakes Day, made it three wins in four career starts by winning a 5 1/2 furlong, $42,000 allowance sprint race November 11 at Laurel. A 3 year old daughter of Blame who sold for $250,000 at auction, Exaggerated has now bankrolled $85,560 in Maryland, all under the services of jockey Forest Boyce. She faced ten other horses in last week’s allowance, took control in the final 1/16th, and crossed a length ahead of runner-up Dreaming of Bella in 1:05.18. The filly who did not race as a two year old, was bred by the Hart Farm, is trained by Arnaud Delacour, and is owned by Roy & Gretchen Jackson of the Lael Stables. Exaggerated is out of Miz United States by Valid Appeal.
Lael Stables’ Exaggerated made it 3-for-4 when she captured an allowance race at Laurel Nov. 11, 2015
Another pair of horses, Jubilation and Officer’s Oath, scored respective come from behind wins in seven furlong, $25,000 maiden special weight races at Charles Town on the same day. The former, a 3 year old Hold Me Back filly, faced nine other ladies while the latter, a 2 year old Luftikus gelding, squared off against nine other males. Jubilation, bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, angled four wide turning for home, closed on the outside and won by a 3/4 length margin in 1:29.63. Officer’s Oath, bred by the Daybreak Stables, Inc., came from 8th at the half, passed five frontrunners going outside in the turn and crossed 1 1/4 lengths in front in 1:30.00. The filly, trained by Jeff Runco, is out of Hawaiian Love by Not For Love while the gelding, conditioned by Ollie Figgins III, is out of Officer Pepper by Officer.
Another Figgins trainee, Secret Or Not, was best of 11 four days later in a $40,000 maiden special weight clash over Laurel’s turf course. The 3 year old Orientate filly was fourth in the final turn of the 1 1/16ths mile race, went between horses and gained the lead at the head of the stretch. She held off late challenges to win by 3/4ths of a length in 1:46.35 under jockey Xavier Perez. Secret Or Not, bred by Charles Wilson, is out of the Secret Hello mare, Leed Me Home.
Secret Or Not, bred by Charles Wilson, wins a maiden special weight race at Laurel on November 15, 2015
Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin completed a “breeding double” of sorts last week when American Dubai captured a $55,000 six furlong maiden sprint at Churchill Downs. The victory came just two days after Jubilation’s triumph at Charles Town. The Rodney Richards trainee overcame a rocky start where he was bumped and bothered, but rebounded nicely to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:10.77. The 2 year colt is by E Dubai out of Smash Review by Bates Motel.
A pair of fillies, ages two and four respectively, won events at opposite ends of the east coast in very different fashion. The freshman, Sweet Victory, went to gate to wire at Gulfstream for trainer Todd Pletcher in a field of ten maidens. The Blame filly crossed 6 1/4 lengths in front of favored Fired Up Sensation and earned the winner’s share of a $50,000 purse. Bred by the William M. Backer Revocable Trust, Sweet Victory dueled with Thanks To Life down the backstretch of the 7 1/2 furlong race and through the turn before shaking free. The winner, guided by jockey Eddie Castro in a finishing time of 1:32.83, is out of My Mammy by Came Home.
Love and Marriage on the other hand, won by a slim neck margin over Sea Coast in a one mile, $69,000 allowance race at Aqueduct. Bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm and trained by Chad Brown, the 4 year old daughter of Arch stayed mid-pack until the final quarter when she battled with the runner up and third place finisher, Fresh Felline. Jockey Javier Castellano directed the 1:36.57 winning effort. Love and Marriage is out of the Lion Cavern mare, Go Baby Go (Irish-bred).